Tumble Inn reads much like a journal, but in reality is a story of a life journey. The story is told by husband, Mark, who is married to Fran. The couple are going through the motions of responsible adults who teach school but feel that something is missing. Seeing an advertisement for innkeepers at a lake many miles away, Fran fudges a bit on a resume for them and they find themselves thrown into a lifestyle that is both overwhelming and a bit out of their league. The couple, before and after landing the job, experience great disappointments as month after month finds Fran without child. Suffice it to say that a child does eventually come their way, but it seemed that much of the child's life was skipped over and ignored. The book is a short 166 pages, but had the author given the same attention to the child as he did to the parents, it could have been a 366 page book with a better understanding of the family's relationship. In less than 5 pages she went from a baby to a teenager. I know the story was about taking risks, stepping outside of your comfort zone, finding strength within, overcoming adversities and finding what makes a home, but the story seemed a bit rushed at times.

I felt the author did a beautiful job of painting the serene, tranquil feel of the lakeside lodge in his descriptive style of writing. I am a reader who likes visuals and this author supplied that and more. I loved the openness this couple had and the courage it must take to make such a leap of faith in changing the direction of your life. The fact that the author did not make it an easy transition for the couple, made it all the more realistic. After reading this I'm not sure that I am willing to give up my career to run a lakeside lodge (or follow some other out-of-character whim), but the peaceful setting and friendly atmosphere described on the pages between this book's cover, sure makes me want to make a weekend reservation.